Knightsbridge

Knightsbridge is a residential and retail district on the West End of London. It was named for a bridge which carried one of the old roads over the River Westbourne, and where wealthy young people ("knights and ladies") often gathered. For centuries, it was renowed to be a hive of highwaymen, robbers, and cutthroats on the western route out of London, but its fortunes were transformed in the 19th century. It came to be home to many expensive shops, including Harrods and Harvey Nichols, and it was also home to several flagship stores, including Jimmy Choo and Manolo Blahnik. Some of London's most renowned restaurants, exclusive hair and beauty salons, antiques and antiquities dealers, chic bars and clubs, and wealthy banks are located in the area. Recently, Knightsbridge has been haunted by terrorism such as the 1975 Walton's Restaurant bombing by the IRA, the 1980 Iranian Embassy siege, the 1983 Harrods bombings, and the 1987 robbery of £60 million from Knightsbridge Security Deposit.